Manitoba has designated $1 million annually for its U.S. trade office, exceeding the previously disclosed $800,000 budget under the NDP government. Documents obtained by CBC News reveal that the allocated funds cover salaries, office space, and other expenses for Washington, D.C., trade envoy Richard Madan and his administrative assistant. The NDP government initially stated the budget as $800,000, but recent estimates suggest it could range from $800,000 to $900,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The appointment of Madan as Manitoba’s trade envoy in Washington came with discrepancies in salary figures. While it was initially reported that Madan would earn $387,000, a later contract revealed he receives $482,000 in annual consulting fees, with additional allowances for hospitality and other expenses.
Additional expenses for the U.S. trade office include $143,000 for an administrative assistant and $221,000 for office rent at the Canadian embassy in the U.S. Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan expressed concerns about the transparency of financial disclosures, emphasizing the importance of clear budgetary information.
Despite repeated requests for spending details, the NDP government has not provided a breakdown of expenses or disclosed past expenditures on the trade office. The lack of specific budget line items has raised questions about transparency and accountability in government spending. Critics, including Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher, have called for increased transparency to ensure public accountability and value for taxpayer money.
Efforts to obtain spending information through freedom of information requests have been met with resistance, with the government citing reasons such as cabinet confidence and potential harm to relations with the federal government. The level of secrecy surrounding the U.S. trade office’s expenditures has drawn criticism for denying the public’s right to information.
Madan declined to comment on the matter, redirecting inquiries to NDP cabinet communications officers. The ongoing lack of transparency regarding the U.S. trade office’s budget has raised concerns about government accountability and public oversight.